Newborn height and weight standards are averages set by the World Health Organization (WHO), on the basis of which the physical development of infants is assessed. Until the moment of discharge from the hospital, the height, weight and other parameters of the child's development are monitored by a pediatrician.
Growth and weight norms of newborns
The standards for height and weight of newborns, established by WHO, take into account the gender of the child: they are different for boys and girls. For newborn girls, the average weight is normally 3.2 kg. In this case, the lower limit of the weight for girls is 2, 8 kg, and the upper limit within the normal range is the weight of 3, 7 kg.
For newborn boys, the average value of the normal weight is 3.3 kg. Weight in the range of 2, 9-3, 9 kg is considered normal.
If the deviation of the weight from the specified limit values reaches 400-500 g, the pediatrician may suspect the presence of developmental disorders and prescribe additional examinations of the newborn.
The growth rates of newborn girls, according to WHO, are 47, 3–51 cm, and the average value is 49, 1 cm. For boys, growth is considered normal from 48 to 51, 8 cm. The average growth rate for newborn boys is 49, 9 cm.
It is important to take into account that all the given norms are averaged. It is impossible to obtain an adequate assessment of the physical development of a child by simply comparing the height and weight of the newborn with the WHO indicators. Since each child has individual developmental characteristics, some deviation in the weight or height of the newborn from the WHO standards is by no means always a sign of any violations.
According to Russian pediatricians, the growth rate for a full-term newborn is considered to be in the range from 46 to 56 cm, and the normal weight is from 2, 6 to 4 kg. As you can see, these figures are slightly different from the WHO data. Therefore, an experienced pediatrician should analyze the growth and weight of the baby: only he can take into account all possible factors of the child's development, adequately assess his condition and draw correct conclusions about the absence or presence of any violations.
Growth and weight gain rates for newborns
A baby is considered a newborn in the first four weeks of life. How does his weight and height change during this period?
In the first 3-5 days after birth, the baby loses about 6-8% of its body weight. This is a natural process, which is caused by physiological factors: the release of meconium, drying of the umbilical cord residue and some loss of fluid. In addition, in the very first days of life, the baby receives a very small amount of milk from the mother.
As early as 4-6 days, the newborn's body weight begins to increase, and by 7-10 days the baby's weight is restored. Weight loss of more than 5-10%, as well as slow recovery of body weight, may indicate any congenital disorders or be a sign of a developing infection. By the end of the first month of life, the weight gain in a newborn normally ranges from 400 to 800 g.
As for the growth rate, after the first month of life, the baby should grow by at least 3–3, 5 cm. But often the growth of a newborn in the first month is even more intense - the child can grow by 5–6 cm.
